BREAKING NEWS: Mets minor roster move in wait for Juan Soto

New York Mets one smaller roster move. before signing Soto, Juan

Before the New York Mets make a high-profile move like signing Juan Soto, they should first look to create some financial and roster flexibility by making a smaller, strategic roster move. One of the best options to consider is trading or designating for assignment (DFA) a non-essential player who may be redundant or underperforming.

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One clear candidate for such a move could be **Tommy Pham**, an outfielder who provides some depth but doesn’t appear to have a guaranteed long-term spot in the starting lineup. Pham has been a serviceable veteran hitter for the Mets, offering power and experience, but he’s no longer a key piece to the future of the team. As of 2024, Pham is a 35-year-old on a one-year contract, and his production has been somewhat inconsistent. His presence on the roster limits the Mets’ ability to fully commit to a younger, higher-upside player who could contribute long-term.

 Why Pham?

1.Financial Flexibility Pham’s salary isn’t exorbitant (around $6 million in 2024), but every bit of financial flexibility will be important when signing a superstar like Juan Soto, who will command a hefty long-term deal. Trading or designating Pham opens up both salary space and a roster spot for a higher-impact player.

2. Outfield Depth The Mets already have multiple established outfielders, including Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte, with up-and-coming players like Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio potentially seeing more time in the outfield as well. Pham is a useful depth piece, but the Mets could get by without him, particularly if they are looking to reallocate those at-bats to younger players or other areas of the roster.

3. Roster Spot for a Soto Acquisition: Should the Mets land Soto, it’s likely they’ll want to move Pham out of the equation, particularly if they’re trying to keep all the financial options open. Soto’s acquisition would likely involve trading or offloading several players, but cutting ties with Pham could simplify the transition and free up room for any necessary new additions.

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Conclusion

This smaller move, while not earth-shattering, helps the Mets make room for larger moves like the acquisition of Juan Soto. It’s a pragmatic approach to both ensuring roster flexibility and reinforcing the Mets’ position to be competitive for years to come. In the end, freeing up resources by parting with a veteran like Pham is a logical step toward executing a big-ticket transaction without straining their payroll.